Zoomlion Ghana Limited, joined by NADMO, Dredge Masters and other partners, intensified flood prevention and drainage desilting across vulnerable communities in Greater Accra on Wednesday as the country enters the peak of the rainy season.
The large-scale intervention, which forms part of a broader disaster preparedness strategy, is aimed at reducing the impact of seasonal flooding that continues to threaten lives, property and economic activity across the capital.
The exercise has brought together sanitation personnel, engineers, heavy equipment operators, local authorities, security agencies and community members in a coordinated effort to improve stormwater flow and strengthen flood resilience.
Early in the morning teams were deployed to critical flood hotspots including Teshie-Nungua, the Osu Castle beachfront area, Achimota and Abokobi for debris collection, desilting and dredging.
The operation focused on removing accumulated silt, plastic waste, and other debris that have over the years obstructed drains and waterways, contributing to flash floods during heavy rains.
At the Blekese West Electoral Area in Nungua within the Krowor Municipal Assembly, residents joined sanitation workers in clearing major drainage channels.
Speaking during the exercise, the Assembly Member for Blekese West, Alhassan Mohamadu Cabilla, commended Zoomlion Ghana Limited for responding swiftly to the community’s appeal for support.
According to him, although residents regularly undertake communal labour to keep the area clean, the volume of silt deposited in the drains required specialised machinery beyond what could be handled through manual efforts.
He described the intervention as timely and critical for a community that frequently experiences flooding during periods of intense rainfall.
Cabilla disclosed that the electoral area has institutionalised monthly communal clean-up exercises held on the first Saturday of every month.
He assured residents that community leaders would continue to monitor the drains and ensure they remain free of obstruction.
He also appealed to the public to desist from dumping refuse into gutters, warning that such practices undermine costly desilting efforts and worsen flooding.
Meanwhile, in the Ga East Municipality, NADMO and Dredge Masters, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies, undertook what officials described as a landmark mechanical dredging exercise on the Dakobi River.
The river, which plays a key role in managing stormwater within the Pantang-Madina-Abokobi enclave, underwent extensive dredging to improve water flow and enhance its capacity to contain heavy runoff during major rain events.
The Ga East Municipal Director of NADMO, Mr. Edem Agbenyfie, praised the technical expertise and heavy-duty equipment deployed by the Dredge Masters team.
He described the intervention as a significant contribution toward protecting lives and property, noting that communities along the river corridor have for years battled recurring flooding whenever rainfall intensifies.
Mr. Agbenyfie also issued a strong warning to developers and landowners who continue to build within designated waterways despite repeated notices from authorities.
He stressed that the assembly would not hesitate to enforce planning regulations, including the demolition of unauthorised structures that obstruct the natural flow of water. While acknowledging the social and economic implications of such actions, he maintained that public safety must remain paramount.
The ongoing operations underscore a growing recognition among disaster management stakeholders that engineering solutions alone cannot eliminate flooding.
Officials say sustained public education, responsible waste disposal, routine maintenance of drainage infrastructure, and strict enforcement of environmental and planning regulations will be essential to achieving lasting results.
The collaborative initiative involving Zoomlion Ghana Limited, NADMO, the Ghana Police Service, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and community groups is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
With forecasts pointing to continued rainfall across southern Ghana, authorities remain committed to deploying personnel and equipment to safeguard communities, protect critical infrastructure, and minimise the risk of flood-related disasters throughout Greater Accra.
